**The Silence Falls**

The Rivera family's lively household had never been the same since the day patriarch, Julián Rivera, had walked into the living room, his usually warm smile replaced with a stern expression. With a deep breath, he announced that music was no longer allowed in their home. The sudden decree sent shockwaves throughout the family, but none more so than Luisa, the family's free-spirited and music-loving daughter. Luisa, a bright and vibrant 16-year-old with a passion for singing and songwriting, felt as though her world had been turned upside down. Music was not just a hobby for her; it was her escape, her comfort, and her best friend. She had grown up surrounded by the sounds of mariachi bands, salsa rhythms, and heartfelt ballads, which her parents had always encouraged. Her room was a shrine to her favorite artists, with posters of Celia Cruz and Marc Anthony plastered on the walls, and her guitar, which she had named Luna, was always within arm's reach. As the news sank in, Luisa felt a lump form in her throat. She looked around the room, hoping to find some ally, some sympathetic ear, but her siblings seemed just as stunned and unsure of how to react. Her brother, Mateo, a laid-back 14-year-old who loved playing the drums, looked like he had been punched in the gut. Her younger sister, Sofía, who was only 10, seemed confused, but Luisa knew she would adjust to anything as long as she had her family around her. Luisa's eyes locked onto her parents, searching for a glimmer of explanation, but Julián's expression remained resolute. Her mother, Elena, looked equally somber, her eyes cast downward as if avoiding the gaze of her disapproving husband. "Why, Papá?" Luisa asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Julián sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his decision. "It's just... music has brought us nothing but trouble, Luisa. Your abuelo's stories about the old country, about the struggles and the heartaches... they're all tied to music. I don't want that for us. I want us to move forward, to leave the past behind." Luisa felt a surge of frustration and disappointment. How could her father, who had always encouraged her love of music, suddenly take it away? Didn't he understand that music was a part of who she was? As the family began to disperse, each member retreating to their own space to process the news, Luisa remained frozen in the living room. Her eyes drifted to Luna, her guitar, which sat silently in the corner, its strings now seeming to mock her. She felt an overwhelming urge to pick it up, to strum a chord, to let the music flow through her, but she knew that was no longer allowed. The silence that had fallen over the Rivera household was oppressive, heavy with unspoken emotions. Luisa wondered how she would survive without music, without the one thing that brought her so much joy. As she stood there, her heart heavy with sorrow, she made a vow to herself: she would find a way to keep music alive, no matter what.